White House Issues Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis

Last month, the White House released the Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis. Recommendations to improve maternal health care include:

• Expanding and diversifying the number of nurses and certified midwives in underserved areas by using a set-aside for the Nurse Corps to support maternal and women’s health registered nurses, Advanced Practice Nurses, and Certified Nurse-Midwives.
• Expanding access to doulas, licensed midwives, and freestanding birth centers by releasing guidance for states regarding coverage options in Medicaid.
• Expanding access in other programs by launching a doula services and training program for incarcerated women and encouraging FEHB carriers to improve reimbursement rates and expand coverage for certified nurse-midwives, freestanding birth centers, and perinatal support services, including lactation consultants and doulas.
• Identifying Maternity Care Health Professional Target Areas, areas within primary care Health Professional Shortage Areas with the highest need for maternity care health professionals and target National Health Service Corps placements for obstetricians and certified nurse-midwives.
• Providing training for providers on culturally and linguistically appropriate care, respectful care, and implicit biases.
• Expanding access to freestanding birth centers, licensed midwives, and doulas.

For more information, see the fact sheet and the recording of the blueprint stakeholder call.